Crochet: Sly Fox Hat

By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/01/2013

October is here! I love October because it means that MAYBE cool weather is on its way to Houston. Probably not, but a girl can dream, right? October also means it’s costume time! Last year, I composed two sweet costumes for my boys’ book character parade (see here) at school.

It features some interesting shaping to create the point at the front and long sides to cover the ears. It is definitely inspired by Ganomy, which, if you’ve been reading long, is my favorite knit hat pattern. This crochet hat is worked from the top down, though, and, like I said, has a point at the front. Instead of two sets of increases and decreases, there eventually are three. I hope you guys like it! I’ll put some notes at the END with suggestions for changing the size. Please read through before asking questions! Have fun!

PatternHAT
With large hook, Ch 3, 11 DC into a magic circle. Cinch circle shut. Slst into top of beginning (beg) ch-3. (12)

Round 2: Ch 3, 1 DC in same sp, 2 DC in each st, slst to top of beg ch-3. (24)

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 DC in next st, *1 DC in next st, 2 DC in next st; Rep from * around, slst to top of beg ch-3. (36)

Round 4: Ch 3, 1 DC in next st, 2 DC in next st, *1 DC in next 2 sts, 2 DC in next st; Rep from * around, slst to top of beg ch-3. (48)

Round 5: Ch 3, DC in next 7 sts, [3 DC in next st, DC in next 15 sts] twice, 3 DC in next st, DC in last 7 sts, slst to top of beg ch-3. (54)

Round 6: Ch 3, DC in next 8 sts, [3 DC in next st, DC in next 17 sts] twice, 3 DC in next st, DC in last 8 sts, slst to top of beg ch-3. (60)

Round 7: Ch 3, DC in next 9 sts, [3 DC in next st, DC in next 19 sts] twice, 3 DC in next st, DC in last 9 sts, slst to top of beg ch-3. (66)

Round 8: Ch 3, DC in next 10 sts, [3 DC in next st, DC in next 21 sts] twice, 3 DC in next st, DC in last 10 sts, slst to top of beg ch-3. (72)

Round 9: Ch 3, DC2tog, DC in next 9 sts, [3 DC in next st, DC in next 9 sts, DC2tog, DC in next st, DC2tog, DC in next 9 sts] twice, 3 DC in next st, DC in next 9 sts, DC2tog, slst to top of beg ch-3. (72)

Rounds 10-11: Repeat Round 9. (72)

Round 12-13: Repeat Round 9, but switch to white after the third decrease and work with that yarn, carrying the MC, to the stitch before the next decrease. You will have to attach the new color every round. Finish the round in the main color, attach white at the end.

Round 14: SC around in white, making [1 SC, ch 2, 1 SC] in the center DC of the increases of the previous round, slst to first SC. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
————————–Ears
Note: the ears are made up of two pieces each– a solid piece in the MC of the hat and a piece that is white + the MC.

Make 2 solid pieces for the back of the ears
Ch 10
Row 1: SC in second chain from hook and each of the rest. Ch 1, turn. (9)

Row 2: SC2tog, SC 5, SC2tog. Ch 1, turn. (7)

Row 3: SC in each st. Ch 1, turn. (7)

Row 4: SC2tog, SC 3, SC2tog. Ch 1, turn. (5)

Row 5: SC in each st. Ch 1, turn. (5)

Row 6: SC2tog, SC in next st, SC2tog. Ch 1, turn. (3)

Row 7: SC in each st. Ch 1, turn. (3)

Row 8: SC2tog, SC in next st. Ch 1, turn. (2)

Row 9: SC2tog. (1)

Ch 1, SC 9 down the side of the triangle. At bottom corner, ch 3, then turn triangle clockwise to work across the beginning chain, SC 9 to next corner, Ch 3, then SC 9 back to top of the triangle. SC in the sc2tog stitch from last row, ch 3, SC in same st, slst to first of the SC you made down the side of the triangle. Fasten off.

Make 2 pieces for the front of the ears.
Work pattern as above, but switch to white for Rows 2-9. Switch back to main color after last SC2tog and work border in MC. Leave a long tail at the end of these pieces.

Stitch a front and back together, then sew in place on your hat.
————————–Eyes & Nose
With smaller hook, make 6 SC into a magic loop. Cinch loop shut. Slst to first SC.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 SC into same space and each stitch, slst to first SC. Fasten off, leaving a 12-18″ tail for attaching. (12)

For Eyes only
Slst into each st.

Sew eyes and nose in place with tail yarn.

Notes on size
As-is, the pattern fits a child size heads. My son is 5, but his head is about the same size as his 8 year old brother. For a larger hat, I increased my hook to a 5.5 mm (US I) and added some more repeats of Round 9 before making the last 3 rounds. It would be possible to make some more complicated increases, but I can’t give any specific advice on that. Try working the pattern through once, so you can see where the increases are placed and then work it again, adding an increase round after Round 4 (increase to 60) and then some round(s) after 8 (remember–Rounds 5-8 are increasing stitch count by 6 DC each round). The last 5 rounds are the same, so you would just need to figure out where to put the decreases that balance out the increases. Good luck!

I went ahead and worked the hat to fit myself and I had to increase hook size (to the 5.5mm–I) and then I worked 2 extra repeats of round 9 before rounds 10-11 (which are Round 9 with color work). It fits past my ears, now. It might be a little long, so try it on as you work those last rounds to see if maybe you don’t need to make as many. I didn’t make the face or ears, but I think they’d be alright if you worked them as-is.

A magic circle is a way to tighten the beginning so there is not a hole in the top of the hat. I do it by leaving a tail of about 6 inches, making a slip knot loop, chaining 4 and slip stitch into the first chain made so that you have a small circle. As you work your first row in the center of the ring, be sure to hold the tail of the yarn across the chain so that it is caught in your work for the first row. After that row is complete, you can gently pull on the tail and it will draw up the circle and close it.

I’m making this right now for my nephew; I know he’ll love it! It occurred to me as well, considering Halloween and all, that if you made this hat in all black it would make a really effective Spock wig! :D

Hi!
Aside from decreasing hook and/or yarn size, my [untested] suggestion would be to stop increasing after Round 7 (66 stitches) and then go to round 9, but change EVERY “DC in next 9 sts” to “DC in next 8 sts.” Round 9 has increases and decreases that even itself out. They’re placed in certain spots in the round, so change the 9 to 8 to make sure they’re in the same general position as the original pattern. Good luck! Let me know how it goes, please!

That’s wonderful to hear! I saw your message via my phone and was going to reply on my computer, but then it had to install updates and restarted on me! One thing led to another and I forgot. So sorry, but I’m glad you got it sorted out!

I don’t have a listing for this hat, but I could make one. It would be $28 + $4 shipping in the US. Outside the US, you will have to send me the country/postal code, so I can look up shipping rates. Let me know via email (lisa @goodknits.com) if this is OK! Also, do you want these colors or something more orange?

Aside from decreasing hook and/or yarn size, my [untested] suggestion would be to stop increasing after Round 7 (66 stitches) and then go to round 9, but change EVERY “DC in next 9 sts” to “DC in next 8 sts.” Round 9 has increases and decreases that even itself out. They’re placed in certain spots in the round, so change the 9 to 8 to make sure they’re in the same general position as the original pattern. If that is still looking too big, you can stop at Round 6 (60 stitches) and change that Round 9 to “DC in next 7 sts.” AND, you may need to make less Rounds after your new Round 9. Just go until it looks to be the right height for him. It should fit over his ears.

Ok so I love this hat and I just finished one using the pattern you so generously provided. I thought I followed it to a T but my seam were the increase is down the middle is not straight down the middle. It wraps around at an angle kind of. Not sure how I can post a picture so you can see what I’m talking about. Have any ideas of what I could have done wrong??

I discovered this a couple days after it was posted and jumped right on making one for my 1 year old. I used a G hook for the entire hat and it fit him perfectly! I still consider myself a beginner, but this tutorial was excellent and easy to follow. Thanks so much!

This is an awesome pattern, but I’m having trouble attaching the ears so they stand up. I’m pretty inexperienced at joining and wondering if you have any tips on the method you used. I crocheted mine using an I hook for a larger hat.

Stacey, Isn’t this a fun pattern? I’ve made it twice in the last couple of days. To get the ears to stand up, this has worked for me. When you sew the front and back of the ear pieces together, do not close the bottom side. Then when you go to attach the ears to the cap, you can sew the front and back on separately, just a stitch apart. Makes a little teepee that stands up nicely. Hope that helps.

I was wondering if you could give me the measurements of the hat your made for your son? I’m trying to figure out if it would match up to my kiddo’s head or not so I can figure out if I need to go down a hook size or not.

Hi! I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner! Laying flat, unstretched with the face up, it’s about 10.25″ across. Doubled, that would be about 20-21″ circumference. The fabric will have some stretch, so it could accommodate even bigger noggins.

Lisa, Thanks so much for sharing this pattern. I’ve made it twice with worsted wt yarn. First time with an I hook, turned out adult size; second with a G (following same instructions) turned out child size. I’m going to try it with DK/sport wt next to go for baby size. I’ll probably stop the increases a row early. Free patterns off the internet are sometimes great, like your, and sometimes have errors or hard to figure out instructions. Yours are perfect! I did make one change. For the nose, after the first 6 sc, instead of 2 sc in each stitch around, I just did one. This gave me a nice 3D button nose. Thanks again. Your son is adorable and he looks like Mr. Personality, too.

Hi there. My son in the photos is 5, so head size is probably not off by much. You can probably go down to a 4mm hook safely. If it looks too small at Round 9, though, you might have to employ the increasing instruction I put in the pattern. Good luck!

Love this! Both my daughter, 7, and my son, almost 4, wanted this hat. Made it with the hook size in the pattern and it came out big. But that’s normal for me. Should have known to go down a size. It’s big on my son but he can wear it. My daughter’s head is smaller so it’s huge on her. Fits me perfectly! I’m kinda thinking about making them for the whole family and all wearing them next when we’re out doing something this fall. Wonder if my husband would go for it? We’ll see. :)

I have a little bit of an addiction to animal hats, what happens when the cousins get too old? That being said this hat is awesome thanks so much of sharing, can’t wait to make a little old silvery gray fox. blessings, DD

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